Covid-19, a year later, it looks like we are back into the swing of things once again.
During Easter weekend, I sank into my chair thinking, is this real, is it the end of the coronavirus?
It was a very strange weekend for me, thinking back to when the pandemic struck last year. Then (towards the end of March 2020) I thought to myself, this is it, this is the end of many lives. I do not need to expand, we all know what happened.
What we saw and experienced was uncomfortable, to say the least. The pandemic highlighted even further, the inequalities in our society. There was disconnection between families, friends, and colleagues.
The pandemic showed and revealed the true colours of most of us, including our government. We were in the state of disaster.
Now, after a disastrous year, I sat and thought to myself, here we are enjoying Easter again. Here we are allowed to see our far away families. I thought something must be right even though there were threats of the third wave.
Amagoduka were happy to travel long distances back to their native land in different provinces.
Sports tournaments were staged all over the place. Churches were ecstatic to have at least 250 members inside their halls even though they were labelled super spreaders in some quarters. The limit on the number allowed to gather outside was increased to 500 and people were allowed to drink off-site. Booze could be bought and sold - but not during the Easter weekend.
It seemed that the tough days were over. To be part of many events this Easter - whether physically or otherwise - was such a rare experience.
I was like “wow” look at us again. It felt like the natural order had been restored.
But something also didn’t feel right. No one was talking about vaccines and when “the rest of us” might get it. The focus was on the roads to those who were travelling afar.
I appreciated everything that has happened during the Easter weekend. Coming out on Easter Monday, I felt like I was resurrected like Jesus. But I also felt like we had been allowed to have fun, only to be berated for behaving badly again.
I felt somebody needed an excuse to blame us, especially bearing that there was a lot of talk about a potential third wave.
And I felt like it was the poor, who were already suffering, who would be blamed for this third wave. The blame would be placed on those who travelled to other provinces. But not those who flew out to other countries.
That said, however, I was happy that families were able to spend Easter together. Even though I never had that chance and opportunity, I am happy for those who had time for slaughter and feast.
What I cannot hide is the effect of the pandemic. The post traumatic stress is there for all to see. Whether the third wave comes or not, some of us need to go for counselling. There was too much inside bleeding in most of us. Those who worked through the difficult times need to allow be seen by counsellors.
I am one of those. I remember walking a long distance to take a taxi to town. I remember sitting in a taxi thinking, how many of us have the coronavirus in this taxi? How many will make it to another two years or so? I had to quickly fix my car for fear of the unknown.
With the third wave talk and the vaccine roll-out having been temporarily suspended, I pray that the numbers won't soar again.
And I urge those who have dropped their guard and are being careless to wear their masks and continue practising the safety protocols.